CHÂTEAU LA GAFFELIÈRE
2019 Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
The 2019 La Gaffelière is well-defined on the nose, though it does not have the complexity of the Petit Cheval and La Dominique tasted alongside. Yet with aeration, its mineralité does become more tangible. The palate is medium-bodied with a sappy entry, plenty of vibrant red fruit, orange rind and spice touches, just a little dustiness developing on the finish. Given the stellar showing in previous bottles, I shall not score based on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Rating: 0 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2019 La Gaffelière is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Bright and tightly wound, La Gaffelière sizzles with energy. Dark red fruit, mocha, blood orange, mint and dried flowers lend striking aromatic presence. There is some youthful austerity here, but nothing time in bottle won't take care of. The 2019 doesn't quite match the stratospheric grandeur of the magical 2018, but it comes close. Drinking range: 2029 - 2059 Rating: 96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2022)
The 2019 La Gaffelière has a wonderful bouquet of mineral-rich black and red fruit and sous-bois, a little tobacco and pencil box emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy and ripe. Perfectly balanced, leading to an almost Left Bank, graphite-tinged finish courtesy of the 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 continues the purple patch of this Saint-Émilion stalwart. No doubt a wine that will give 30 to 40 years of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2025 - 2060 Rating: 96 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2022)
The most gorgeous depth and complexity through the palate, with touches of mineral pulsing and salinity on the finish, a ton of brambled blackberry, raspberry puree, tobacco leaf, leather and raspberry leaf fruit. 60% new oak. Brilliant wine. Owned by the Malet-Roquefort family since 1715, with Stephane Derenoncourt consultant since 2004. I love this, and it has delivered on its En Primeur promise. Drinking range: 2028 - 2044 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (Jan 2022)
The 2019 La Gaffelière is a distinctive Saint-Émilion, which should be inferred positively. There is something atypically very tertiary about the nose, beautifully defined and focused with plenty of fruit, yet very complex and cerebral. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and wonderful harmony. The silky texture belies the structure underneath and the finish is extraordinarily long. Ancient vintages of La Gaffelière like the 1961 are legendary. This ranks alongside them - the best I have ever tasted. Magnificent. Drinking range: 2025 - 2060 Rating: 95-97 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2020)
The 2019 La Gaffelière is deep, vivid and beautifully layered in the glass. Dark fruit, espresso, mint, lavender and mocha build as the 2019 opens up in the glass. Deep and fleshy, yet also light on its feet, it has a sense of translucence that carries through all the way to the finish. This is a stunning, riveting wine in every way. The Grand Vin is sourced from the core holdings comprised of about eleven hectares of vineyard. Tasted two times. Rating: 94-96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2020)
Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2019 La Gaffeliere reveals a tantalizingly bright, fresh nose of ripe black plums, crushed blackberries and warm black cherries with touches of lavender, star anise, Sichuan pepper and fragrant earth. The vibrant black fruits completely fill the medium to full-bodied palate with loads of crunchy, energetic flavors, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively line of freshness, finishing with a mineral twist. Irresistibly scrumptious! Rating: 95-97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Jun 2020)
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2022 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2025. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2025. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.